Emergency switch



w. A. MUELLER, SR 2,198,677 l EMERGENCY swIT'cE April 30, 1940.

Filed May 31, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l M01/,WU .I

April 30, l940- y w. A. MUELLER. sR-` 2,198,677

EMERGENCY SWITCH Filed May 51, 1938 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Apr. 3i), 1940 UNITED STATES rATENT OFFICE Claims.

of the switch being instantly caused by the motor vehicle upsetting or involved in a wreck, under any conditions. l

A still further object of the invention is the construction of a novel and efficient emergency switch at a minimum cost.

Another object of the invention is the construction of al support having an upper end in the nature of a socket, for receiving a novel depending portion on a casing, whereby when the casing is unseated from the socket of the support, electrical means will be operated for breaking a circuit, whereas while the casing is in'its set or upright position, the circuit will not be interrupted. t

A further object of the invention is the improvement of the structure of an emergency switch disclosed in my prior United States application Ser. No. 146,486, led June 4, 1937.

With the foregoing and other objects in View, the invention comprises certain constructions, cornbinations and arrangements of parts as will be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

"Figure 1 is an elevated View, partly shown in side elevation and partly in vertical central sec- 40 tion, of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, while Figure 2 is a similar view, the casing of the switch being shown in an upset or dumped position.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary section view taken on line 3-3, Figure 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view in elevation, partly shown in vertical section, of another embodiment of the invention. Figure 5 is a view partly in elevation and partly in vertical central section of another embodiment of the invention.

Figure 6 is a view partly in elevation and partly' in vertical central section of another embodiment of the invention, showing the casing in its set or normal position, whereas Figure 'l is a sectional View of this embodiment, showing the casing in an upset or dumped position, whereby the circuit is broken. f

Figure 8 is a sectional View taken on line 8 8, Figure 6 and looking in the direction of the arrows.-

Referring to the drawings by numerals and to the embodiment of this invention shown in Figures lto 3, i designates a casing, and in fact, I designates the casing in all of the embodiments. This casing I is provided with a depending leg 2 integral with its bottom; this leg 2 is preferably cylindrical in shape and is solid. This depending leg 2 is common to all of the embodiments disclosed in this case. Leg 2 terminates in a reduced foot 3, which foot 3 is common to the embodiments shown in all of the drawings except the embodiment shown in Figure 4. Integral lwith the foot 3 is a depending apertured lug 4. A tubular support 5 (Figs. l, 2, 4, 5, 6, and 7) is provided in which the reduced foot 3 is normally positioned. In Figs. 1, 2, 4, and 5 the tubular support is in the nature of a bracket, since itis threaded at 6, on its inner end, and extends through a vertical bracket l (Fig. 2) with nuts 8 thereon, against opposite faces of bracketl, whereby the tubular support 5 is securely mounted uponl bracket 1, which bracket is connected to a clamp 9; clamp 9 surrounds post I0 (Fig. 1) and is held by the bolt and nut device II securely thereto.

' In the tubular support 5 is a coil spring I 2, the upper end of which is secured to the apertured lug 4, whereas the lower or inner end is fastened in the eye I3 of bolt I4, Fig. 1. 'Ihe bolt I4 extends through the outer end I5 of tubular support 5 and has thereon a nut I6; this nut I6 can be adjusted on bolt I4, whereby the tension on spring I2 is controlled. A rubbing block Ily (Fig. 1) is in the tubular support 5 at its bend, against which coil spring I2 bears, as shown in 'said Fig. l. By adjusting nut I6, greater or less strain can be exerted onk the apertured lug 4, for holding casing I in its normal seated or closed position.

It is to be noted that I have shown a casing with a depending leg and a support for supporting said leg, with yieldable means that can be adjusted to a nicety for normally holding the casing on the support in an upright or set condition.

To overcome the possibility of unduly straining'spring I2, I place a coil or limiting device I8 on the leg 2 and support 5, one end being secured to the leg and the other end being secured to the support; this limiting device, when in its normal retracted position will be as shown in Figure 1, whereas when the casing I is dumped it will be extended as shown in Figure 2, preventing unnecessary movement of casing I oi its support.

In casing I, I place a suitable ller I9, made out of any desired material, preferably of an insulating nature. In the filler I9 is a metal pan 20, and a metal shell 2|; this shell is flared out at its upper end 22 producing a funnel-like appearance. An insulating means 23 is interposed between pan 20 and shell 2|. Metal balls 24 are in the casing I, normally engaging the pan and the shell as shown, whereby the circuit is closed through wires 25 and 26; wire 25 is secured at its inner end to shell 2|, and wire 26 is secured at its inner end to the pan 20. I preferably place oil 21 in the casing I to the height shown in Fig. l.

It is to be understood that contact is established by means of the metal balls -24 when the device is in normal position. In case of a crash or the automobile is overturned the casing takes the position shown in Figure 2. The metal balls 24 are removed from the pan 20 and shell 2|, thus opening the circuit. If this switch is applied to the low tension of the ignition circuit, the foregoing description is sufficient. If applied so as to cut the entire net work of hot wires at the battery,

`the generator must be grounded out, or the engine will continue to run even though the battery is disconnected. To take care of this, a projector 28 is connected at its lower end to pan 20 and extends upward near the upper end or top of the casing I. On the upper end of projector 28 is a metal disc 29 backed by an insulating disc 30.

When the casing I is upset or dumped, due to crash or turnover of the automobile, the metal balls form an electrical connection between the projector 28 and its metal disc 29 and the casing I, and since the projector is yelectrically connected to the generator circuit, and since the casing I is grounded, the generator becomes grounded and its circuit dead. Casing I can be filled with a suitable iluid or oil and sealed, which will prevent corrosion and also serve to eliminate an arc.

It is to be understood that I reserve they right to use my device both with and without the fluid feature, and also with and without the generator grounding feature. If used on the ignition circuit only, the grounding feature is unnecessary.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 4, I have shown a novel means for preventing undue straining of coil spring I2, when the casing I is unseated as shown by dotted lines A. This means comprises the placing of a plug 3I in the upper end of the tubular support 5, through which extends chain 32; this chain is connected through its upper link to pin 33. Pin 33 extends through the depending leg 2 of casing I. The lower end of chain 32 is connected to a large ring 34; the upper or outer end of coil spring I2 is also connected to ring 34. Therefore, when the casing I is unseated, large ring 35 will be drawn against the lower end of plug 3I as shown by dotted lines B, thereby preventing further unseating movement of the casing I.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 5 the casing I contains an auxiliary casing 36 formed out of suitable insulating paper; this lining is done 'when the switch is applied only to the ignition circuit. The object of this is to prevent a short circuit in case all the metal balls 24 do not clear the contact retainer, as might be the case if this unit was built small enough to handle the ignition circuit only. In this case, it is also desirable to have the projector 28a extend only through the metal balls 24. 'Ihis short projector 28a increases the contact area and the portion above this point is unnecessary; the foregoing applies only when used as an ignition emergency switch. In more detail, this embodiment includes said shell 2| of the embodiment shown in Figure 1, to which the inner end of wire 25 is connected, and the inner end of wire 26 is connected to screw 31; screw 31 carries the insulating washer 38 and this washer bears against the bottom of shell 2|. Screw 31 passes through a large aperture in the bottom of shell 2 I and is threaded into the lower end of the short projector 28a as clearly shown in Figure 5. A suitable insulating disc 39 is on screw 31 against the bottom of shell 2| and the lower end of projector 28a, thus forming a tight joint and preventing the oil 21 from leaking out. In this embodiment, the same novel structure of the lower part of casing I and tubular support 5 is involved as specifically described in connection with` the embodiments shown in Figures 1 to 3. In this embodiment (Fig. 5) it is to be noted that the auxiliary casing 36 of insulating paper is fitted snugly within the top of casing I and against the upper edge of the funnel-like portion 22 of shell 2I.

Referring to the embodiment shown in Figures 6 to 8: The tubular support 5 is provided with a threaded extension 40 that extends through the top of container 4I. A nut 42 is on extension 40 securely holding the tubular supportv 5 in position. The support 5 is provided with a socket 43 into which extends the foot 3. The container 4I is provided with a suitable insulation 44 on its inner face. A shaft 45 extends vertically through the container 4I, and this shaft is screw threaded on its lower end; the screw threaded lower end carries nut 46. The shaft 45 is provided with an upper cylindrical portion 41, a central reduced portion 48 and a lower cylindrical portion 49. The portions 41 and 49 are larger in diameter than portion 48, for the purpose hereinafter specified. A coil tension spring 50 is mounted on the shaft 45 between nut 46 and container 4I. A link 5I connects the upper end of shaft 45 and the apertured lug 4. This means 45, 46, 50, and 5I performs the same function as spring I2, bolt I4, and nut I6 accomplish in the embodiment shown in Figure 1. The casing I is preferably lled with sand 52 so that this casing is a weighted container. It is capable of tipping or dumping as is common to the other embodiments of this invention. 'I'he container 4I is connected by rod 53 to the bracket 1, with lock nuts 8 employed for the same purpose as described in connection with the embodiments shown in Figure l. The inner end of rod 53 is provided with a xed washer 54 within container 4I, and nut 55 is threaded on rod 53 against the outside of the container 4I, thereby securely fastening the rod and container together. into the container 4I, and this plunger 56 is provided on its inner end with a flat tongue 51; tongue 51 is slotted at 58; this slotted end engages shaft 45. An insulating block 59 is on plunger 56. A metal sleeve 60 is mounted on the fiber block 59, and is thereby insulated from plunger 56.

This metal sleeve may be formed of copper and the insulating block 59 may be formed of liber, or any suitable insulating material. A metal strip 6I is on the lower portion of block 59 and is fixedly secured to sleeve 6I) against which spring blade A reset plunger 56 extends` 62 bears. ThisA spring blade 62 is connected with terminal 63, and wire B4 is connected to terminal 63; this wire S4 is connected to a generator circuit, not shown. An upper spring blade 65 engages sleeve 6i) and block 59; this blade 65 is mounted on terminal E6; terminal 66 has wire 61 connected thereto, and this wire is connected to the battery. A coil spring 58 is mounted on the plungerlF-B between one end of the container 4l and end of block 59. The outer end of reset plunger 56 projects into an enclosing sleeve 65; this sleeve is suitably secured to the outer end of the container, with a seal 'l0 applied thereto. A ring l! is on the outer end of plunger 55 within sleeve 59. y When the switch is set as shown in Figure 6, the outer end of the tongue l' bears against the upper cylindrical portion 41. When the casing I is dumped or thrown over, as shown in Figure 7, the shaft 45 moves upward causing the reduced central portion 48 to be placed in slot 58, whereupon spring 68 forces the plunger 56 forward, thereby placing the upper blade 55 on the insulating block 59, breaking the circuit. Spring 50 is suiiciently strong to hold the container I in its set, upright position, and the tension on said spring can be controlled by nut 46. The blade 62, which is connected to the generator circuit, remains in contact with its copper strip Si. The strip 6l engages a stud 12 in container 4l, as shown in Figure 7, thereby grounding the generator circuit. The sleeve 69 being sealed, before a reset can be made following a crash, it is necessary to break the seal and remove the sleeve 59, thus tending to prevent hit and run driving.

My preferred specie or embodiment is shown in Figures 6, 7 and 8, and to which my specific claims are drawn.

In all of the embodiments, a novel container or casing l is furnished with socket means for keeping the same in a set or upright position, under yieldable tension, whereby the casing will not be tilted, dumped, or upset under normal running of the motor vehicle carrying same. However, when a crash occurs or a wreck results, the casing will be tilted for breaking the circuit but will not be entirely disconnected from its support. The mechanism is provided with electrical means operated by the tilting or unsetting of/the casing to break a circuit; while the casing l is in its normal vertical position, or set, the circuit will be complete. Therefore, I have shown in all the embodiments the novel casing and its cooperating parts for making and breaking a circuit.

While I have described the preferred embodiments of my invention and illustrated the same in the accompanying drawings, certain minor changes or alterations may appear to one skilled in the art to which this invention relates during the extensive manufacture of the same and I, therefore, reserve the right to make such changes or alterations as shall fairly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In an emergency switch, the combination of a hollow or tube-like support, said support provided with leg-receiving means, a casing provided with a depending leg, said leg normally in said leg-receiving means, means under spring tension extending through said hollow support and connected to said leg, and means actuated by said set casing closing a circuit and actuated by unsetting said casing to open a circuit.

2. In an 4emergency switch, the combination of a support having a passage through its center, a casing provided on its bottom with a depending leg, said leg provided on its lower end with a reduced foot, said foot provided with an apertured lug, said leg engaging said support, said footin'the passage of said support, yieldable and adjustable means connected to said apertured lug for normally holding said casing seated, and means actuated by said set casing closing a circuit and actuated by unsetting said casing to open a circuit. j

3. In van emerg-ency switch, the combination of a tubular support, a casing provided withan extension extending intoy one end of said tubular support, a coil spring in said tubular support and connected at one end to said extension of the casing, a bolt connected to the other end of said coil spring, means for adjusting said bolt and thereby controlling the tension of said coil spring, and means' actuated by said casing closing a circuit and actuated by unsetting said casing to open a circuit.

'4. In an emergency switch, the combination of a support, said support being threaded at one end and open at its opposite end, clamp nuts on said threads, a casing provided with a portion extending into the open end of said support, a bolt extending through the threaded end of said support, a nut on said bolt against said threaded end, a spring connected at one end to said bolt and at its opposite end to the portion of said casing in the open end of said support, and means actuated by said set casing closing a circuit and actuated by unsetting said casing to open a circuit.

5. In an emergency switch, the combination of a curved tubular support closed at one end and open at its opposite end, said tubular support provided with screw threads on its closed end, nuts on said screw thread, a casing provided with a leg, said leg normally closing the open end of said tubular support, a reduced foot on said leg and in said tubular support, a lug on said foot within said support, a bearing block in said support, a coil spring connected at one end to said lug and normally bearing against said block, a bolt extending through the closed end of said tubular support and connected at its inner end to one end of said coil spring, a nut on the extended end of said bolt and against the closed end of said tubular support, and means actuated by said set casing closing a circuit and actuated by unsetting said casing to open a circuit.

6. In an emergency switch, the combination with a support, of a casing on said support, said casing provided with a pan, a shell enclosing said pan, a ring-like insulator between the edges of said pan and said shell, a projector connected at its lower end to said pan and having its opposite end provided with a disc near the top of said casing, a wire connected to said shell, and a second wire connected to said pan.

7. In an emergency switch, the combination with a support, of a casing on said support, said casing provided with a filler, a shell in said casthrough a portion of said container, means connecting said kspring-pressed shaft to said casing, and means for making and breaking a circuit in said container and controlled by movement of said shaft. 9. In an emergency switch, the combination of a container, a tubular support on said container, a casing resting on said tubular support, a sliding shaft extending through said container, means connecting said sliding shaft to said casing, a tension spring on said shaft against said container, said shaft provided with portions for controlling movement of a switch tongue, and a switch in said container provided with a tongue in engagement with said shaft.

10. In an emergency switch, the combination of a horizontal container, means for supporting said container upon a bracket, a hollow support `on said container, a casing provided with a foot and a lug extending into said hollow support, a shaft extending through said container, means connecting the inner end of said shaft to said lug, said shaft provided with an upper large cylindrical portion and with a small central portion, a coil spring on said shaft outside of said container, a nut on said shaft, said nut being capable of controlling the tension of said spring, spring blades in said container, terminals connected to the ends of said blades, a reset plunger slidably mounted on one end of said container and moving between ends of said blades, said reset plunger provided near its middle with a metal sleeve and an insulating block against which said blades are adapted to contact, said reset plunger provided with a slotted tongue, said slotted tongue adapted to engage the upper cylindrical portion and the small central portion of said shaft, a coil spring on said reset plunger between one end of the container and one end of said insulating block, said reset plunger extending through one end of said container, and a sealed sleeve over the extended end of said reset plunger outside of said container.

WILLIAM A. MUELLER., SR. 

